I had a start and ambitious plans to write something a bit more substantive for Monday’s Daily Cup of Joe, but as happens sometimes life got in the way enough that even my late night office hours did not leave enough time and/or energy to finish up. I will get back to that within the next few days.
Instead, today’s Daily Cup of Joe ponders a few looming questions for the offseason and also for the season ahead.
For the remainder of the offseason
1) Which of Justin Faulk and/or Jeff Skinner will still be with the team when the regular season begins?
2) Rod Brind’Amour is on record as saying that the team will only have one captain for the 2018-19 season. Who will it be?
3) Will the Hurricanes extend Sebastian Aho and/or Teuvo Teravainen this summer?
For the start of the season
4) Which Canes goalie will emerge from preseason with the starting job?
5) Who will claim the other slot on the line with Sebastian Aho and Teuvo Teravainen for opening day?
6) Which rookies will crack the opening day roster?
Over the course of the 2018-19 season
7) Which Canes goalie will win the most games during the 2018-19 season?
8) Which rookie will have the biggest impact?
9) Who will be the team’s most valuable player?
10) Will the team finally return to the playoffs?
Who has a couple questions to add to the list for some Canes hockey discussion in the dog days of the NHL offseason?
Go Canes!
1) Neither–however, the return will not be what most hope.
2) Justin Williams. It makes sense for this year. Also, it will allow for a transition to Aho as captain in the next year or two.
3) They should. But I have no idea if they will. It seems one of the reasons for moving Hanifin and Lindholm was an unwillingness to pay market value. It would be extremely short-sighted to do something similar with Teravainen, but I don’t rule it out. Aho will get paid, but it will be more if it is after the season.
4) Darling or Mrazek. My magic eight ball said so.
5) Zykov.
6) Svechnikov, Zykov, Necas.
7) Cam Ward–it appears Crawford isn’t ready to start the season. Cam will leave many shaking their heads. But he was always a league-average goalie. I’m telling you there was something about the system the past 4 years–too many goalies had .905 save % in Raleigh who were better elsewhere.
8) Define impact. Svechnikov will get 20+ goals and look like a superstar in the making. Necas will show flashes of being a top center and will ease all the concern over trading for a “1C.” Zykov will be a nightmare for opposing teams in front of the net with Aho/TT and on the power play. I think Zykov and Svechnikov are within a goal or two of each other at season end.
9) Aho for the foreseeable future. While Svech will look like a superstar in the making, Aho is taking the next step this year. As a center, he will be a point-per-game player.
10) A very tentative yes. The offense will be better, especially the TAZ line and the power play. But the penalty kill might struggle. After all the positive things I said above, it still comes down to the goalies–so who knows.
CT, on number 3, I would say unwillingness to pay market prices for players who were not living up to expectations. TD did get de Haan which made me take pause on the being cheap. Only a gut feel but I believe TD will pay when he feels he will get return. I hope he isn’t cheap and not get Aho and TT extended. Time will tell.
I would gladly have given Lindholm the money that Calgary did, and think they will be well rewarded for the result. I think he will take a huge step forward. Both are young and I really don’t see much of a downside to paying them. That said, I’m good with Hamilton, Ferland and Fox. All’s cool here.
Oh and CT, I agree with every single thing on that list except the obvious:
As the most blindly supportive Scott Darling fan, I think he wins the #1 job for the Canes, wins the most games AND the Vezina….okay or he’ll just win enough to keep my jersey relevant for a couple more years, whatever.
1. Skinner. It didn’t seem possible a month ago, but no offer comes that’s good enough to part with Skinner.
2. It’s got to be Williams.
3. No. I have a feeling that Dundon will drag it out.
4. “Takes shot of whiskey.” Darling.
5. Zykov. Although I have a feeling about Ferland making a strong case.
6. Zykov, Necas, Svech. I would love to see Foegle join them, but I just don’t see where he fits in the starting lineup if these 3 are all in Raleigh.
7. “Takes another shot of whiskey.” Darling.
8. Necas. Without the addition of a top-6 center via trade, Necas will be thrust into that role early and will shine with Svech on his wing.
9. Aho
10. Looks at goalies. “Takes another shot of whiskey.” Sure.
1. I think Faulk will depart before Skinner. At this point, I anticipate Skinny in the October lineup, but we will see what happens.
2. Hopefully Justin Williams – he should’ve worn the C last season.
3. It would be nice if both Aho and TT sign extensions before the regular season.
4. Darling.
5. Not sure here with pending trades and deals. All things remaining the same though, Zykov might be a good fit.
6. If any rookies make the roster, it would have to be Necas, Svechnikov and Zykov. We’ll see.
7. Darling.
8. Toss up between Svechnikov and Necas.
9. Aho.
10. I don’t think so. Last year I said yes, but after last season my optimism has been scaled back. Good trades and acquisitions were made earlier in the summer; however, there is more work to be done on the offensive side. That said, I don’t see the ownership gaining much via a trade for Faulk and/or Skinner in that regard. At least, I do not anticipate the Canes acquiring a player who will make an immediate impact via a potential Faulk/SKinner deal.
1) Faulk. Mainly because I think Dundon will want that salary gone. I think Skinner is a bit more difficult. What the Canes want/should get for him isn’t what teams want to give for a year rental. Skinner will probably be more valuable at the trade deadline.
2)Most likely Williams, but it could be Staal if the team and Williams aren’t committed to each other past this season.
3) No. Too busy shopping players and I think Dundon is gunshy to play players early after seeing contracts like Rask’s.
4) Darling. At least I hope so…after all the work he is putting in getting prepared and the work the team is putting in getting his confidence back I hope he is the man. If not, that’s a big contract to eat.
5) I have no idea. I don’t believe it will be given to Zykov. He will have to earn it.
6) Zykov, Necas, and Svechnikov. I think Foegele is ready, but with all the LWs on the roster there is no room for him. Skinner trade may change this.
7) Darling
8) Necas. He seems to be ready and his talents are special. If he stays healthy I think he solidifies a line at center. I think Svechnikov may struggle with the expectations of being in the NHL. Conditioning, 82 games, etc. Zykov is still a gamble. May be a liability with his skating.
9) Aho
10) Possibly. The Canes should be more stable on the blueline. If they get just average goaltending they could make the playoffs. 50-50 in my eyes.
1. Skinner. The package he can return isn’t going to be enough to not just wait till the deadline and get a late 1st + B prospect if he won’t re sign.
2. Hopefully Aho. I’m less warm on Williams ad captain for one year than most. I think he gets it and does a great job though.
3. If I’m either of them, I wait. Hopefully Aho signs something team friendly. Wouldn’t be comfortable signing TT to a big contract until I see another good year out of him and I doubt he wants something short term.
4. Mrazek. My hot take for the off season is he turns into a legit number 1.
5. Svech.
6. No idea honestly.
7. Mrazek
8. Svech
9. Aho
10. Doubt it. Wasn’t convinced last off season and not overly convinced this one. Still too many variables and hoping players work out in roles they haven’t thrived in yet. Also the goaltending has the potential to be even worse than last year.
As always, will gladly be wrong.
This being a game of “will” and not “should” or “hope”…
1) Skinner. As much as I thought both would be gone it is clear now trades to remove him have gone nowhere. There is no room for Faulk, on the other hand, in the current blue line structure.
2) Williams. He has the rapport with RBA as former teammates. He has the respect of the players in the room. He can well play the role of coach-to-player communicator. He has also already taken on the role of captain by welcoming new players to the team.
3) No. In an interview last year Dundon said he wanted to extend Aho for 8 years, and Turbo as well for term. But he indicated we still “control” Aho for another 5 years and may take all of those 5 years to find the deal.
Opinion piece – how he handles Aho’s contracts will be a big determinant of what type of owner he is.
4) Darling. But Mrazek will press him hard and we may find ourselves with the unexpected circumstance of one of the best goaltender duos in the league.
5) Zykov (on opening day).
6) Zykov, Svech, Necas, Wallmark.
7) Darling (who will get most of the starts).
8) Svechnikov. He is a beast and is going to be an immediate impact player.
9) Aho. He just keeps getting better.
10) Yes. we should have been in the playoffs the last two seasons (well, certainly the 2016-17 season). This is the year – offensive improvement and much sounder play in the d-zone with a rebound in goaltending.
1. Skinner seems more likely to be on the roster than Justin Faulk.
2. Jordan Staal stays as the C, I think Faulk is going to be moved. The popular answer is Justin Williams and I think RB knows that JW is the acting captain. I expect JW to have an A. I’m totally happy with JW getting the C and Hope he does but I think Jordan has a ton of respect in the room.
I agree on Staal. other than not being a fiery leader, he really did nothing to warrant it being taken away. I also think he has a ton of respect in the room and from Brindy.
3. No clue. I thought it would be done by now.. but I don’t see a huge rush.
4. Darling. But I have no idea!
5. Ferland.
6. for sure – Svech, Necas. Dark horse – Janne Kuokkanene
7. Hopefully Darling. Lets all pray!
8. Svech
9. Aho with a Staal being in the conversation.
10. I think they can. I’m hopeful. It will be a struggle because I’m not optimistic about our Goaltending. Way to many ifs at the position. If you are counting on those ifs to be the game changer then that’s a scary difficult journey. I feel like we will be fighting for a spot in the last week of the season.
11. My big question that hasn’t been addressed – What will Rod bring to the bench? Will the style change? I think he will run it more like Peter Laviolette and open it up witch could really change the scoring on our team. I know he talks to Pete on a regular basis. People typically gravitate doing what made them successful… hence – my bold prediction is a wide open game is coming to PNC this year.
1) Jeff Skinner will still be with the Canes. To have both going into training camp would be too awkward. And Faulk is easier to move.
And there is one thing that attenuates Skinny’s value that nobody is willing to admit. It is not what some regard as his inattention to defense. It is, to some extent his contract. But the main concern has to be his history of concussions.
2) Willy will be our captain. Our only captain. Our one and only captain. There is nobody else for this year. He is our glue guy. He is Roddy’s guy.
AND, unlike last year’s two captains, he wants the job.
3) I believe that both players will sign extensions.
4) Scotty
5) Valentin Zykov or Michael Ferland.
6) Zykov and Carrick.
7) Scotty
8) Zykov
9) Aho
10) Absolutely
d-rob! I like your 11th question. I agree with your answer.
1. Skinner. Faulk has more of a market just by the nature of his position and more demand for right shot blueliners who can score. Not that it makes any sense, it’s just the market.
2. Williams
3. Aho only. No rush for TT.
4. Darling
5. Ferlund
6. Zykov, Necas
7. Darling
8. Svech (He’s special….)
9. Team MVP (as defined as the one player who if removed from the roster has the largest effect). Aho
10. Ummmmmmm, maybe yes, maybe no. Everyone in the division but the Islanders got better in the offseason. I’m going to say no only because the rookies will require half a season to transition to the NHL. I think the Canes will be better than last season and on a good upward trend, but the hurdle is the competition who generally have more veterans on their roster.
1) I believe Jeff Skinner will still be with the team.
2) Justin Williams.
3) I hope the Hurricanes will extend both Sebastian Aho and Teuvo Teravainen this summer.
4) As Darthcanes said, with a shot of whiskey and then some, Darling. I think they could both bounce back but I have no idea if either do.
5) TAZ, Zykov. I could see Ferlund also.
6) Zykov, Necas, Svech, Dark horse – I would love to see Foegle. I believe skinner will still be on the team but if he leaves, there is a place for Foegle.
7) Darling.
8) Svech, you are not the best forward in the draft for no reason.
9) MVP – Aho.
10) The second pairing defense will be much better, should see fewer breakdowns, we will be tougher to play against and should have more scoring. I do believe they will this year. The big issue is if our goaltending blows up again.
We are not done yet, there are trades which could shake this up.
1. Skins -stays Faulk -gone
2. Willy
3. Aho -extended
4. Ned
5. Zykov
6. Foegele, Necas, Svech, Wallmark, and Zykov
7. Ned
8. Wallmark
9. Slavin
10. Not bloody likely…unless Ned really does great, or the Canes actually trade for a good goalie (really unlikely)…the MGMT JUST REFUSES TO SEE HOW IMPORTANT A GOOD GOALIE IS!
I’m too weak from trade-watch-fatigue to comment … but I am slowly regaining my strength.
1. Skinny
2. JW (Staal is a good c material but I think the route goes from JW to a champion of the future).
3. No extensions
4. Darling
5. Zykov
6. Necas, Zykov, Andrei, Voegele is a tan horse, Ned is not out of the picture. I predict one rookie surprise emerging from training camp/Traverse city, just not sure who will rise to the occasion.
7. Better be Darling
8. Necas
9. chuck Kaiten 😉
10. No playoffs, still at least one piece missing and the rookies are not as ready as we imagine them to be.
Hey gang! Brady Tkachuk has just announced that he will not be signing a pro contract with the Senators this year. He says he will be going back to college instead.
When Jack Johnson did that to us, Jimmy Rutherford got angry and traded him to LA for Tim Gleason as well as Eric Belanger. I hope our brain trust calls Pierre and asks him what he wants for Tkachuk. Wow!
Smart move for Tkachuk. He doesn’t need the cash and Ottawa is a gongshow right now. No point putting him in that locker room until they get things straightened out.
Oh! And he signed with LA. He just didn’t want to waste his time playing for us.
A couple years later.
It doesn’t look like Tkachuk actually made that decision – he said today he will make the announcement by 8/12. Based on the press it looks to be expect. I am sure part of the equation for him is looking to see if the Sens can clear up their mess by next season so he can join them in a year less catastrophic than next seems to be. He is also very enthusiastic about the new coach at BU and the quality of the team next year. He is holding the cards. But he is not eligible for college-based free agency for another 3 years.
Meanwhile Quinn is going back to Michigan with Vancouver’s blessing.
Jack Johnson, one of the NHL’s most overrated defensemen, the Canes definitely got the better end of that bargain.
Who knows, maybe Skinner to Ott for Duchene and Brady’s rights. I mean Ott is not exactly rocking the trade market right now, so why not ask.
Skinner would not accept a move to OTT – although he would likely be on a playoff-bound team in March if he did.